discussion Wonwings Diary-a blog with a difference.

[Guest]

I've just received my copy of Conway's "All the Worlds Fighting Ships 1906-1921"

Wow!! Staggering amount of detail and should have cost 45.00 quid in the UK.

I'll have to have another look at those ships now.

 

[wonwinglo]

Great stuff Richard,you are now armed with the technology needed.

 

[wonwinglo]

Wonwings diary-The Curtiss T-32 Condor & Grumman Tigercat.

Curtiss T-32 Condor.

The Curtiss T-32 Condor II ( Curtiss Wright CW-4 ) biplane transport of 1933 was even more of an anachronism than its namesake,the Condor 18 of four years earlier.Its only concession to the then current modernity was the landing gear,its main units retracting into the engine nacelles.A two bay biplane of mixed contruction,with a strut braced single fin and rudder tail assembly,the T-32 Prototype made its first flight on 30th January 1933.Layout for most of the production batch of 21 aircraft that followed was as a luxury 12 passenger night sleeper transport,and a number of T-32's flew with Eastern Air Transport and American Airways during the following three years on regular night services.Two modified T-32's were bought as transports for the U.S Army and operated until 1938 under the designation YC-30.One Condor was completed with extra fuel tanks as a long range version for use by the Byrd Antartic Expedition.Equipped to operate with either twin floats or skis,it was also unique in having a fixed landing gear.Ten T-32's were ultimately converted to AT-32 standard and re-designated as T-32C.Four T-32's were being operated under British civil registrations at the outbreak of World War II,these were impressed and flown by the R.A.F.

The Curtiss Condor in R.A.F service.

Grumman Tigercat.

 

[wonwinglo]

Wonwings diary-The Piper L4H Cub.

Piper L4H Cub ( Grasshopper )

Low and slow,artillery,observation aircraft,the Piper L4H could land in tiny fields and was the helicopter of its day.

On approach to a small field,the name Grasshopper referred to most U.S.Army spotter aircraft.

 

[Guest]

Barry, I think it would be interesting if you could put a bit of information regarding the model alongside these pictures. Such as Airfix 1/72nd, Frog 1/48th etc.

Just a thought, although you are probably like me and can't remember all of them!!

 

[wonwinglo]

***Richard these models are over 35-40 years old, and have been restored from the broken remains utilising scratch built components or bits from the spares box in many cases,most of the kits are no longer available which prompted me to rebuild them,sadly I have lost my original notes,building instructions,box ends etc in various house moves which makes kit manufacturer identification difficult.

Whenever possible I will endeavour to provide a few details if my memory allows me,if not then details of the real machine are added like the Curtiss Condor above.

I do believe the Condor to be an original ITC kit that was revamped by Kleeware U.S.A in 1=72nd scale.

Most are fairy obscure manufacturers now long defunct which makes them a bit special.

Since Jan 2005 have managed to salvage 200 models,some required a dunk in brake fluid ( thanks Nigel for that excellent tip ) to remove old paint prior to priming and painting,others needed splitting down the seams,to get at rattling bits inside of them which had to be retrieved and re-glued,others just needed a bit of work with some wet and dry and a lick of paint added.

The work has been very satisfying to save these old relics,many of which cannot be replaced.

Barry, I think it would be interesting if you could put a bit of information regarding the model alongside these pictures. Such as Airfix 1/72nd, Frog 1/48th etc.Just a thought, although you are probably like me and can't remember all of them!!

 

[wonwinglo]

Wonwings diary-India wants to buy Mirage 2000 jets from Qater.

Mirage 2000

India hopes to buy Mirage 2000 fighters from Qatar especially as the US has committed to supplying F-16 fighters to Pakistan, the Indian ambassador to Qatar, Dr George Joseph, told Al Sharq in an interview.

India also expects to take its liquefied natural gas (LNG) import to a whopping 20 million tonnes a year by 2015 from the current five mtpa.

India's Petronet has recently signed a deal with Qatar to import another 2.5 mtpa of LNG to its terminal in the south of the country.

India and Qatar have historical ties. The Indian rupee was the currency of this country until the early Sixties.Qatar's investment in India is worth $5bn and India hopes to invest in Qatar in the key energy sector, especially in the downstream industries. There are Indian companies active in construction and infrastructure sectors.

 

[Guest]

Barry when will we get the next instalment of your biography???? pretty please

 

[wonwinglo]

***Nigel still finding photographs and bits and pieces,it will appear in due course rest assured.

Barry when will we get the next instalment of your biography???? pretty please

 

[wonwinglo]

Wonwings diary-The Northrop P-61 Black Widow & Northrop XF-15

Northrop P-61 Black Widow.

This was the first aircraft to be designed as a radar equipped night-fighter,Northrop's three seat twin engine twin boom design gained a U.S.Army Air Corps contract for two Northrop XP-61 prototypes in January 1941,these were followed by 13 service test YP-61 aircraft,and the development problems of this aircraft were matched by those to create a new air interception radar based on the British cavity magnetron.Nevertheless,the first,the first examples of the P-61A Black Widow production version began to appear towards the end of 1943.It was soon discovered that its four gun remotely-controlled dorsal turret caused severe buffeting when slewed to a beam position,and the turret was deleted after the first 37 aircraft had been built.P-61A'a began to appear with fighter groups in the South Pacific in the first half of 1944,production of this version totalled 200 aircraft,deliveries of the ensuing P-61B began also in 1944,a total of 450 of this version being produced,the last production batch the P-61C model comprised 41 aircraft,however at the wars end some 476 aircraft of this model were cancelled.Black Widows appeared in Europe by July 1944 and shot down four German bombers in their first engagement.The type also destroyed a number of V-1 Flying Bombs during the offensive with Antwerp.

The sole Northrop XF-51A Reconnaissance aircraft was converted from a late production P-61C Black Widow night fighter.

Both models were built from early Frog Northrop Black Widow kits 35 years ago,the XF-15 being made from scratch built parts utilised in the assembly,both models were restored during 2006.

 

[Guest]

Barry,

These restored models look amazing for thier age and must be now extremely rare examples of thier kind. These pictures will then preserve them for evermore and must give you a tremendous pleasure and satisfaction to record them in such a way.

You must have enough made and unmade kits to do justice to a museum exibition!!

Do you think sometimes the aircraft could be banking for the final approach so that we can see the upper surfaces as well?

 

[wonwinglo]

Yes Richard I do enjoy setting them up in realistic poses,I may just take a few models along to the local airfield at Wellesbourne and film them in a different setting,unfortunately if I bank them too much the angles look unrealistic at the height above my garden fence ! I may do some airfield scenes looking down on the upper surface,when the skies outside are unsuitable in the winter months.

It is a great way to record the models,and see them as many live stored in boxes if not on display rotation.

 

[wonwinglo]

Wonwings diary-If you are patient then something appears & the price of progress.

20-08-2006 COVENTRY

WKI63/G-BVWC English Electric Canberra taxies in at Coventry 20-08-2006

Hours of boredom waiting to see something interesting at airfields,can sometimes be rewarded with a gem,I visit and support my local airfields,lets face it without them we would be the worse off,probably more houses instead of open spaces,in America they are beginning to realise that a few aircraft flying over is better than over building,simply because airfields mean more green open spaces,well almost green if you discount the concrete !

A lot of this noise paranoia is in the mind,we live near a busy by-pass and also right under the flight path to BHX Birmingham airport,give me the jets anytime as the constant hum drum of motor traffic gets on your nerves,especially when the wind is blowing this way,once more attempts to shield the noise with a long wooden fence have made things far worse.

As you have probably read in the press Coventry airport has made planning history,by being the longest running court case of its kind, the reason for this is to get a proper airport terminal as opposed to some portakabins.

It has been proven that the very people who complain about the noise from aircraft,are the very ones that utilise the cheap holiday flights,this is verified from their post codes.

And once more it is not the jets that make the most noise,helicopters make the most racket and unlike jets you can hear the noise miles away,so it is all relative,motorway,aircraft,industry,take your choice ?

One thing that always surprises me is that people may own their own houses,but they do not own the view,sky or roads outside ! and once more choose to live where they do.

But I love machines,noisy ones as well,and do not mind living right under a major flight path,it adds interest to my day.

It is still a marvel to me,that something so large as an Airbus can achieve sustained flight and fly across continents,it is such a thrill to watch them.

 

[Guest]

Barry! if you photo models on the ground just get a bit of white card a4 size is fine and use it as a reflector to get rid of any sharp shadows try it its brilliant

 

[wonwinglo]

***Yes it does work well Nigel,just given it a try and you are right.

Barry! if you photo models on the ground just get a bit of white card a4 size is fine and use it as a reflector to get rid of any sharp shadows try it its brilliant

 

[wonwinglo]

Wonwings diary-More airfield walkabouts-Wellesbourne 19-08-2006

WELLESBOURNE 19-08-2006

Today was the ideal opportunity to photograph some close up engine detail on the Robinson R.44,also you can see the well designed mast assembly on the high inertia head,this gives the helicopter excellent auto-rotational stability,the sales for this type speak for themselves she is a fine machine,the pilots just love them.

G-LAID R.44 II with taped on registration,serial 11377 almost ready for another lucky owner,if you are wondering why most of them are painted black it is because this is the most visible colour,every colour looks black at a distance,this is why the R.A.F trainers are so painted,sounds odd I know but it is true.

EI-DKI R.22 of Goldcrest Aviation,Dublin with boom removed on maintenance.The boom works very hard and contains self aligning bushes.

G-CDJZ R.44 II of JTS Aviation,Ware

G-ILET R.44 II belonging to the Lear Group,Stourbridge

Engine detail on G-ILET,everything is very tidy and compact.

Boom detail on G-ILET,note the boom attachment lugs.

Masthead detail on G-ILET,showing the collective rods.

G-VNUS Hughes 269 still at Wellesbourne,this helicopter defies its age being 33 years old,a real gem of a machine.

 

[wonwinglo]

Wonwings diary-The Grumman Martlet ( F4F Wildcat )

Grumman Martlet ( F4F Wildcat )

The U.S Navy's requirement for a new carrier based fighter in 1936 resulted in the Brewster Aeronautical corporation receiving an order for a prototype of its Model 39 under the designation XF2A-1.This became the U.S Navys first monoplane fighter in squadron service,but so tentative was the U.S Navy in its decision to order this aircraft that it also ordered a prototype of Grummans competing biplane design under the designation XF4F-1.However a more careful study of the performance potential of Brewsters design ,plus the fact that Grumman's earlier F3F biplane was beginning to demonstrate good performance ,brought second thoughts.This led to cancellation of the biplane prototype and the initiation of an alternative G-18 monoplane design.Following the evaluation of this new proposal,the U.S Navy ordered a single prototype under the designation XF4F-2.

Flown for the first time during September 1937,the XF4F-2 was powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-1830-66 Twin Wasp engine of 1,050 hp,the aircraft had a max speed of 290 mph and was of all metal construction,it had a cantilever wing set at a mid position on the fuselage.After a brief period the prototype displayed hidden potential noted by the U.S Navy and was returned to Grumman in 1938 together with a new contract to develop the machine further.The G-36 became the XF4F-3 being fitted with a more powerful Twin Wasp which had a two stage supercharger,increased wing span and tail area,plus a modified machine gun installation.After moving the tailplane further up the fin the aircraft had improved handling characteristics and then the Navy ordered 78 of the production F4F-3 during 1939.With war imminent in Europe,Grumman offered the new G-36A design to France and Greece,the French Navy examples were not delivered instead were diverted to the UK for use by the Fleet Air Arm as the Grumman Martlet Mk.1.

The rugged little Grumman F4F seen here in a bank, was popular with its pilots,and ideal for carrier operations.

The undercarriage folded neatly into the fuselage sides,this layout gave the undercarriage a fairly narrow track.

The model was restored from two scrap Frog models that had seen better days.

 

[Guest]

Barry for a real nice model of a wildcat now , have a look at the trumpeter 1/32 one it captures the landing gear and internals so well its almost a model in itself

 

[wonwinglo]

***Nigel,it may surprise you that I have never seen or built a Trumpeter kit,but have heard they are very good.

Barry for a real nice model of a wildcat now ' date=' have a look at the trumpeter 1/32 one it captures the landing gear and internals so well its almost a model in itself[/quote']

 

[wonwinglo]

Wonwings diary-ASDA Price's biggest shopping trolley yet.

ASDA Price Advertising Boeing 747.

ASDA Stores giant has been quick to realise the potential of a redundant giant Boeing 747 airliner,during August the aircraft which is parked up at Bruntingthorpe airfield in Leicestershire became the subject of much attention in a giant store advertising campaign,armed with paint rollers and hundreds of gallons of green and white paint,the aircraft was transformed into what you see here by an army of painters working from computerised patterns.The registration properly belonds to a Beech Queenair but who cares she will never fly again.

Previously this former Olympic Airways machine was used for simulated anti-terrorist attack training,and in fact is the second Boeing 747 to be parked up at Bruntingthorpe,the first one was blown to pieces in controlled sequences for the CAA.

Thanks to the kindness of the Wallmart Group for supplying Scale-Models with the photograph.